Bartlett Boy Helps Bring Success to Annual Walk for Peace
Bartlett, IL - On Saturday, 8-year-old Aidan Hennessy was one of the younger participants in the annual Walk for Peace and World Peace Day Celebration at the Bartlett Nature Center. He joined his friends from Wayne Elementary School and his Cub Scout Den in the Bubble Run and checked out the wildlife in the Bartlett Nature Center.
Hennessy also led the fundraising effort for the local event, having collected $15,000 in donations along with his team, bringing his four-year fundraising total to more than $40,000. He was recognized as the top fundraising participant before the start of the Walk for Peace.
More than 150 participants and volunteers from 12 area communities gathered at the Bartlett Nature Center for 1k and 5k walks on nature trails, and an International Food Festival that featured 10 different cuisines. Play for Peace founders Michael Terrien and Craig Dobkin lit a peace fire at the start of the event, which raised nearly $34,000 to support the organization's work in Chicago and in 19 countries around the world.
Hennessy was one of two eight-year-old children recognized as top fundraisers. Eight-year-old Samantha Armas from Guatemala also helped raise more than $5,000 for the Walk for Peace.
"We were very excited to see so many young kids at our event on Saturday, walking for peace and having a great time," said Sarah Gough, executive director of Play for Peace. "The fundraising efforts of these children have really made a difference for us. Aidan and his friends raised enough money to sponsor a Play for Peace Club for a year. Samantha's team raised enough money to start a new Club."
The annual event celebrates the United Nations' International Day of Peace, which calls for the absence of war and conflict in all areas of the world.
"We were one of nine Play for Peace celebrations this month in five countries," said Gough. "The people who gathered in Bartlett joined Play for Peace Clubs in Guatemala, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Sudan in celebrating World Peace Day."
Play for Peace will continue collecting donations for its Walk for Peace campaign through Oct. 15. To add to Aidan Hennessy's total, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/Lisa-2015walkforpeace. To make a general donation, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/GeneralDonations-WalkforPeace.
Play for Peace brings together children, youth and organizations from communities in conflict, using cooperative play to create laughter, compassion and peace. In divided neighborhoods in the U.S., and communities of conflict and tragedy around the world, teen facilitators create safe spaces where children from different cultures and backgrounds can discover what connects them, rather than what divides them. Play for Peace is a Chicago-based 501 (c) 3 global nonprofit organization with 2200 members in 19 countries.